Are Music Lessons Right For You?

How do you know if music lessons are right for you or your student? This question doesn’t answer itself quickly. How did my parents know that music was right for me?Well…they didn’t. They really couldn’t have. But why then did I end up dedicating so much time to it while my brothers dropped out and pursued other interests? Simple – because I like music. At what point in time did I know for sure? This is also a tough question, especially considering that there was actually a point early on where I really didn’t like piano lessons. Or so I thought. As it turns out (looking back years later) I actually really loved music, but I hated practicing! Other people have this epiphany as well, but sometimes a little too late to do much about it. “I sure wish I hadn’t quit piano!” they tell me as adults.
The time it takes to find out whether or not music is right for someone is really the time it takes for the student to prepare and perform a piece that they really like. If after this first great achievement the student still has little or no drive for music (they’d rather do sports or dance or something else), it is highly likely that music is not right for him or her. Remember that practicing is not fun for anyone. Push past it for now! Don’t give up until you know for sure whether music is right for you.

– Mark Campbell, M.M.
Piano Instructor